In Season Recipes

Anonymous

What are the peas in? 

carberry

marybe thanks for the zucchini recipes and definitely gonna try the salsa, I also prefer the fresh over jar

Carollynn  thats an amazing garden, I also want ot know how the peas were prepared.

Blundin2005

Carolynn79--is THAT cherry pie!!!!  I am soooooo jealous--and salivating! I can buy cherries, but I really like the wild cherries that our tree gives us.  Maybe next year...sigh.  And your garden is beautiful with abundance.  We scaled our life down so now our plot is in the pots that you see. I can remember "the days" though and that too is fortunate.

I like your cocktail meatball idea for a buffet menu. The london broil is very tasty but requires a knife and a place to cut it, unless I serve it precut--that's an idea too--bite sized. A salad is a given.  But what is the pea soup? 

And the kholabarbi...it's really a very pretty veggie I'd enjoy to taste. I haven't seen them here.

Marybe--The lasagna idea is a consideration. The pasta shop would make that easy for me.  I didn't want to heat up the kitchen with the oven though. The lasagna is a meal of it's own and makes the bbq a mute point.  I wanted to make the bbq a focal point since it's on the terrace and makes it easy to serve. I'll need to ponder on this some more. I want this to be easy.

They never get tired of Italian food here.  In fact, that's all you can find. We expats search out variety or create it which is my plan for the bbq. We share restaurant finds of ethnic food.  I like to mix and match. When I first arrived and wanted to make the london broil for DH, his brother and wife, my DH was speechless then suggested that they wouldn't like it.  Not only did they eat it, but went for a second plate, and asked for the recipe.  That's a lot of fun when that happens.

A funny story. You've probably heard that food here is regional. I knew nothing about Italy when I arrived beyond what is taught in school. Once, I asked a waiter for water with a label from Rome that I like very much...we were in the south.  He looked at me with care and without a trace of a smile then responded "Oh, yes. We know about the water from Rome." My DH intervened with the waiter then explained this to me later. It was like looking for a Philadelphia cheese steak in California...it can never be the same. Now I look for what is regional here.      

Today DH invited the neighbor to join us for lunch.  He wanted an excuse to cook lamb--abbacchio cacciatora. It's a breezy day for kitchen work.

Best wishes to all as always,

Marilyn 

Anonymous

     OK, if you do the barbeque, have slaw with it....that's the way we always eat it here.   And maybe mac and cheese as a side.....I know they are big on pasta, but think that is a more American take on it.  When you say bbq, are you doing beef or something like pulled pork?  I love pulled pork and also have a really good barbeque recipe that is made with a chuck or pot roast and you cook it forever and then shred it with forks and remove the fat.  

I know about the regional thing.....I worked in Switzerland and when I went back wanted to order the wine I always loved, Fendant.   My former boss asked, But why order the Fendant when we have our own wine that me make here in the Solothurn region?

I am sure whatever you serve will be wonderful and get rave reviews.   

Blundin2005

Marybe--I'd like your recipe for the shredded pork and bbq sauce?  My mouth watered to think about it. I haven't had it in a long time. I need to make the sauce from scratch because it isn't on the shelves here. That would go well with slaw don't you think?  or corn on the cob? I could do skinless chicken breast with it. That's a good grill meal. I'm getting hungry...and me on a diet! The sorbet is a good idea with a fruit tray.

I haven't been to Switzerland yet. Maybe one day. But I always sit on the left side of the plane to see the Alps on my way home...beautiful.  Fortunate for you to have worked there.

M 

Anonymous

  1 pork butt (my Grandmother's recipe calls it a pork callie)  7-8 lbs

Rub with 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp paprika, 4 teasp Kosher salt, 3 teasp garlic salt, 3/4 teasp chili powder, 1/4 teasp oregano, 1/4 teasp cayenne, 1/4 teasp cumin, 1/4 teasp black pepper.  Top with  juice of one lemon, 1 large onion diced fine, 1 green pepper diced fine, 1 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes.  Cover and cook overnight at 200o oven.6 - 8 hrs. When cool enough to work with, remove and excess fat and bones.....shred fine using two forks, pulling motion.  This will make about 48 sandwiches.  ( depending on bun size)

For a more modern version which you do on a grill, you can use a beer baste which consists of 1 bottle dark beer, 1 1/4 c cider vinegar, 1 1/4 c white vinegar, 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar,1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 c soy sauce, 1  1/2 tbsp lemon juice, 3 tbsp chili powder, 2 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 teasp black pepper, 2 teasp dry mustard, 2 teasp paprika and 1 teasp cumin.    Combine and cook over med low heat til butter melts. Put coals on one side of grill, leaving one side of grill empty, put aluminum pan with water in it on void side.  Place pork on other side of grill  and close lid , baste every 1/2 hr.. cook 4 hrs.  Shred when cool.

This is a sauce recipe that looked good.....here we just buy it by the bottle, but actually I like it without and the slaw on my sandwich.     

            Deep south barbecue sauce

3/4c chicken broth  1/2 cup brewed coffee,  1/2 cup ketchup  1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup onion, 1/4 cup bourbon, 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 2 tbsp creole mustard, 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 teasp canned chipotle chilies minced plus 1 1/2 teasp adobo  ( I would skip this unless you want it hot), 2 garlic cloves minced, 1/4 teasp salt, 1 Tbsp vegetable oil.  Boil in a saucepan until thick, stirring. 

Maybe someone has a sauce recipe they have tried and like....as I said I either don't use it or buy it. 

Blundin2005

WOW Marybe!  I can't wait to try this.  The Deep South bbq sauce sounds so good.  I'll try them all with a bit of improv but not too much improv.  We don't have a lid on the bbq...it's built into the wall but I can accommodate the effect in some way.  Wish we had a door on the bbq like our friend's. That would do this recipe justice!

Thanks so much for sending it and thanks to your grandmother.

I could google the nutrition facts on this and probably learn that the fats are high.  But you know what?  Sometimes a girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do.  This recipe deserves to be made.  If you are in the neighborhood sometime in August, you are invited to join us. 

I forwarded this to my DH.  He loves bbq sauce.  

Thanks again. 

Our lunch finished about half hour ago (3:50ish pm Rome time).  It was tasty.  Even the dogs enjoyed some pan drippings on their food...both now asleep.  Me too soon.

Part of my labs came back and all is good except the kidney stones so far.  Calcium was within limits so I'm going back on my supplement...my bones are hurting without it.

Best wishes to all as always,

Marilyn 

carollynn79

Marybe the bbq recipes sound great, I will definitly try them.  I like to make my own sauce so these sounds wonderful!!

Teka

^..^

Anonymous

 I love swiss chard...we used to eat a lot of it and also beet greens.  I don't know if I am familiar with bush beans.  My lone little cantaloupe vine is getting longer so maybe I will actually have some melons this fall. 

Sherryc

Last weekend we built another raised garden bed.  Tomorrow we are going to get the organic soil for it.  Fall planting here is mid to late August and I want to be prepared.  I have never done a fall garden so this will be interesting.  I work for the county extension office so my boss has given me lots of good information about what plants to try for our area.

Blundin2005

Buon giorno! 

Cloudy and rainy today.  We felt this storm coming.  It was cool yesterday, even needed long sleeves. It was hot in the sun earlier, but the breeze on the terrace proved too much for our spaghetti with pesto. 

A friend stopped by unexpected yesterday around lunch time...a pleasant surprise...we hadn't seen him for awhile.  We invited him to stay. DH took some pesto out of the freezer to add to spaghetti. That helped to stretch our planned cantelope and prosciutto.

DH enjoyed the visit very much.  Our friend had been invited to exhibit his art in Shanghai and after, Cuba. He also teaches art. We talked about the difference of the perception of creativity through the eyes of people who have not had the freedom to do so and only recently are finding that freedom. There is a propensity to copy other work, but more difficult to permit their own ideas to flow.  

Our week was filled with several doctor appointments.  Fortunately the weather was pleasant; warm with a breeze. The menus were simple:  one day was tomatoes stuffed with rice -- another day, melon and prosciutto -- another day, midnight spaghetti -- another egg plant and steaks on the little grill -- lots of apricots, plums, and peaches alla nature. 

I've been thinking to add a raised garden bed to our garden. It may be a crazy idea, but I want to make it high enough that I don't need to bend over and, more important, that our tall, male dog can not reach with his ... well, you know.  What I plant will probably be limited by the depth of the raised bed. There is one spot in the garden between the trees that gets full sun all day. This is a dream for next year.  I'm also looking to plant dog plants on their level. I found a list. This will be good homework for the winter.

Have a good week everyone and buon appetito.

Marilyn 

Anonymous

  Dog plants?  I know about catnip , but was not aware there were plants for the dog.  I am interested as we have three. 

apple

my dog will pee on any plant including house plants.  I forgot all about this great thread.. glad to be back.

kira1234

A raised garden what a great idea. Something I will have to look into. My poor back isn't what it used to be that's for sure.

Blundin2005

Marybe, want to join me in homework? Here's the list http://www.sniksnak.com/plants.html  Our dogs beg for veggies...go back a few postings to see them doing that. I really need to look it over again.  I moved my cyclamin (toxic) so they couldn't eat it even though that one is debateable. 

Apple -- I roared laughing when I read your post...ain't that the truth! I've lost sunflowers and the ortensia is tinged brown.  I keep it clipped.  How's the garden doing? 

Kira--I can get down on my knees...it's getting up that's the problem.  I'll bet that was the original idea behind terraced gardens...that and the steep hills around here...oh and intelligent water conservation.

When I walk the dogs, who are energy dogified, my knee keeps me from breaking into a trot from a striding walk. We go to dog park where they can go off leash and tear around for awhile. Ah the memories of my children doing the same.

carollynn79

busy week at work and now a busy weekend at home. garden is going strong.  My mom is with us this weekend and already she is worn out! We picked kholarabi, swiss chard,cucumbers, dill,garlic,raspberries,gooseberries and beets.  we made 9 quarts dill pickles, and plan on making jam,pickle beets, and freezing kholarbi. it is cooler it has been high 90,s and dry. We too love swiss chard with butter salt pepper  and red wine vinegar. Hope all have a great weekend. Time to get back to the kitchen.hw

w 

Blundin2005

Hi all,

This is for us. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html 

And Carolynn79, Wow. I felt like a schlepp sitting here reading the events of your week. By the time I read this you probably cut and bailed the lower 40! ... or at least finished a great weekend with your mom--made me wish I could get on a plane to visit mine.

Tell me again, what are kholarbi? 

Anonymous

  I checked out that poisonous plant list for dogs.....wow, mine have a whole yard off plants they could off themselves with.  Yesterday I was spraying the driveway with Roundup in the cracks where we have weeds, little trees, all sorts of things growing and Harley, the little one who gets into everything, kept insisting on rolling on those spots.  Finally I had to take him inside because I was afraid he was going to get sick or burn his hair off with it or something.  When my old Silky was a pup, he ate an entire package of digitalis bulbs so after calling the vet and finding out they could kill him, had to rush him off to the emergency pet clinic to have them give him a charcoal emetic.  That one got into everything, but amazingly enough lived to be 17 1/2 yrs old.  I am putting a pic of Harley on here.  He's in the backyard on a bench. Kohlrabi is part of the turnip family, isn't it? 

apple

I haven't had much luck fixing kohlrabi.. I made a slaw and my family hated it.. I cooked it briefly (sauteed in sticks) and my family hated it.  We have never had it till recently.

Blundin.. the gardens are ok.. it's been hotter than blazes here and we have deer who come to the front 'hot' garden (tomatoes and peppers) and eat it from the top like it is their buffet.  I'm giving up on that one. I planted rhubard and my husband mowed the little plants DOWN..  I didn't even mention that to my dear husband who does more than 'his share' and puts up with my moodiness..  (thank you drugs).

my herbs are doing great.. the deer are eating the zuccini along the fence, my asparagus patch is growing awesomely as are the concord grape plants and the purple beans (really an ornamental) that I planted along side.

Sherryc

My husband had a client that was in a wheelchair and when they built their new house he loved gardening so they had raised gardens beds built that were wheelchair height so that he could continue gardening.  They were really pretty and had very nice walkways in between. It was very attractive and was great for him.

apple

that's a wonderful idea.

Teka

^..^

Sherryc

I had purchased an eggplant at the farmers market.  We do not eat alot of those so I don't plant them.  Anyway I sliced and fried them and also made ratatoulle.  My husband said it looked like goulash thought ratatoulle was a fancy name.  Anyway they were both very good.

Blundin2005

Teka!  That recipe had me staring like deer in the headlights!  I'll assume that the oil and eggs are for clinging effect to the earth around the plants?  I've used dish detergent on the plants and that works for some insects.

Apple - I had the deer conversation with my cousin in Oregon within the last couple of months.  I don't live in the open now, but when I was young, I used electric fence around the garden.  It was what I used for the horses...a slight jolt, nothing harmful...I can attest.  Here is what my cousin wrote to share about her garden:

As for your friend, we have our vegetable garden (four large raised beds) behind a six-foot tall wire fence to keep the deer out.  Actually, they could get in but they have plenty of food outside so they are too lazy to jump the fence.  But smelly plants are supposed to deter them from things they like to eat.  Try planting marigolds or aromatic herbs amongst your tomatoes in hopes of keeping the deer and rabbits out.

This compatible plants topic seems to keep circulating doesn't it?  There must be something to it. I'd bet that Teka's recipe gets smelly too what with the eggs, milk, oil in the sun! Yuk! Our dogs probably would thank us for the perfume! One creature's food is another creature's garbage. Better luck then with next year's garden. 

Sherry, your husband might be right about the goulash.  Don't you find that recipes are tweeked for geography in similar ways?  Your ratatouille sounds like the concoction my DH made last week...he'd swear it had nothing to do with the French recipe.  A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  We like grilled egg plant too with just a drizzle of olive oil and parsley clipped on it. It's the fresh flavor that I love about it. My body is simply grateful.

I'm liking this raised bed idea more and more.  I imagined putting the earth tools, plant food and creature deterrents underneath to be at hand along with some potted compatible flowers for aesthetics. I saw some simple wooden plants boxes at the agricultural store that would suffice...I think. I need to do homework about depth requirements.  I'll need a platform to sustain them. I'm thinking 'work/saw horses' with rows of polls or boards...drainage is needed underneath so I don't want to close it off. I'm certain we have something of this nature to recycle. This is removable too so that if I don't want the garden the following year, the space is returned to the garden and the materials used for other projects.

ciao for now,

Marilyn 

Sherryc

marilyn for a raised bed you really only need about 8 to 10 inches of soil.  I was suprised by this when my master gardeners told me this so my first bed I used 10 boards so my soil depth was about 8 inches and my tomatoes, squash and Okra have been wonderful in that bed.

apple

good tip about the marigolds.. and deer.. I don't want to hurt them or keep them out.  They are gorgeous.

thanks Blundin

Blundin2005

Sherryc you're giving me the encouragement I needed.  I used deep, large terra cotta pots for the pomadori chorus on the terrace because I read the planting requirements and translated that to they need room.  But probably more between the plants than the depth of the earth? The more space between, the more the sun gets.  But I noticed that when I clean the earth for the next planting that the root system isn't deep.  So I'm guessing that your friend is right.  That will make this a lot more fun. 

Sherryc, I wonder if you could ask your friend if vine-like plants such as string beans can hang down instead of polling up?  Or the squash?  I'm thinking to let them hang over the sides to get more use of the space.  Of course draping plants means to cordon off the area from Napo and his "browning methods".  

Marybe did you find a sun spot in your garden to put a couple of boxes?  and what would you plant in them?

Apple--prego bella.

Sherryc

Blundin I'll ask about the hanging not sure about that.  I know that when you are tight for space you can plant those things close to the edge and have some kind of wire etc for the climbing to take place on, but I'll ask about the hanging.

NativeMainer

I once grew some peas in a window box and let them hang down--I should have given them something to climb on, they got really leggy until they hit the ground, but I don't see why other viney plants couldn't hang down.  Not sure about pumpkins or squash, they may need more support for the weight?